Results tagged “primate” from 60 Second Science

The eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, epicenter of what is often called Africa's World War, may soon see peace for the first time in years. More than 20 rebel leaders -- including rogue general Laurent Nkunda, wanted for war crimes -- are signing a cease-fire with DR Congo's government in hopes to quell the violence that has killed 45,000 people per month for the past ten years.

This is good news for DR Congo's mountain gorilla population. Only 700 of the animals are left on earth, mostly in Virunga National Park-- which became a de-facto war zone last year as rebel militias swarmed in.

Continue reading 'Will Congo's peace treaty save the mountain gorillas too?' >

One third of the world's apes, monkeys, lemurs and other primates face extinction. And it's because of our bad habits of chopping down rain forests, the illegal wildlife trade, and commercial bushmeat hunting.

Today, the the World Conservation Union (IUCN) released a grim report for our closest living relatives: Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates—2006–2008.

“You could fit all the surviving members of these 25 species in a single football stadium; that’s how few of them remain on Earth today,” said Russell A. Mittermeier, Chairman of the IUCN.

via BBC